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Teams

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Argentina can justifiably claim to being one of beach
soccer's pioneers. In 1993 the
Albiceleste were one of four teams, the others being the
USA, Brazil and Italy, that took part in the sport's first
professional competition in Miami. And just like many other nations
in those formative years, Argentina bolstered their ranks with
former international stars. Lining up in Miami were none other than
Sergio Goycochea and Julio Olarticoechea, members of the squad that
reached the Final at the 1990 FIFA World Cup Italy™.

The South Americans were also involved in all the unofficial
Beach Soccer World Championships from 1995. Their best finish was
third place in 2001 at Costa do Sauipe in Brazil, where they even
had the temerity to beat the host nation in their final game. The
Auriverde would have their revenge at the FIFA Beach
Soccer World Cup 2005, eliminating their fierce rivals at the
quarter-final stage.

Argentina returned to the beaches of Rio de Janeiro in 2006,
now with coach Francisco Petrasso at the helm, though the last
eight again proved too big a hurdle. Having beaten Nigeria, Bahrain
and Italy in the group stage, Argentina fell 2-1 to near-neighbours
Uruguay in a bad-tempered quarter-final clash. The
Albiceleste will feel the 2007 showpiece is their chance
to break that glass ceiling, and reach the last four or beyond.

QualificationFielding a much-changed team, with seven players hit by
suspension, coach Petrasso put his faith in a new group of players
to secure a place at Rio de Janeiro 2007. In the event, a
comfortable 4-1 win over Venezuela in Acapulco, Mexico, was enough
to secure their ticket to Brazil, after Uruguay had beaten the same
opponents in the second round of matches.

Their involvement on the sands of Copacabana in November now
assured, Argentina said goodbye to their title aspirations in
Acapulco after losing a seven-goal thriller to the
Charrúas. Nevertheless, it was still mission accomplished
for coach Petrasso and his on-field lieutenants Santiago and
Ezequiel Hilaire.

CoachNow 37, Hector Francisco Petrasso has accumulated a wealth of
beach soccer experience. The Argentinian strategist, now in his
second year in charge, knows exactly how it feels to compete on the
Copacabana, having represented the
Albiceleste at Rio de Janeiro 2005. Twelve months later,
this time as coach, he came mightily close to leading his team into
the semi-finals.

That feat has been targeted by Petrasso for this year's
event, who has at his disposal a number of his former team-mates.
"We know these lads very well and some of them were team-mates
of mine. We understand each other and respect each others'
roles. The most important thing is that we all want what's best
for the team," he explains.

Star playerThe years and tournaments come and go but the backbone of the
Argentina team remains intact. Brothers Santiago and Ezequiel
Hilaire, the two eldest of a trio of beach-soccer playing siblings,
remain key figures in a national team determined to improve their
standing in the sport.

No.10 Ezequiel, who will be 28 at the time of this year's
competition, is the squad's most experienced player. Santiago,
who wears No.2, combines typical South American defensive grit with
an opportunistic eye for goal. Both were invited to represent a
"Rest of the World" team in an exhibition match against
Brazil back in January 2007.

What they said..."We've worked hard since the last World Cup and
we've got through the tricky period caused by so many suspended
players. Fortunately, the suspensions are drawing to a close and
we'll have more players available ahead of this year's
tournament. We're very very good defensively, and in Rio de
Janeiro I'll think we'll also have plenty of attacking
potential."
Francisco Petrasso, Argentina coach.